Posted on 02/08/2007 9:16:33 PM PST by Reagan Man
WASHINGTON -- Eager to head off Rudolph Giuliani's recent gains in the polls, conservative activists this week strengthened their attacks, with some promising to step up their efforts on the Internet, talk radio and "below-the-radar" to discredit him going forward.
They are taking direct aim at one of Giuliani's strongest selling points, at least to some backers -- that he is the Republicans' best hope of stopping Hillary Rodham Clinton.
These critics argue that his nomination would prompt a conservative third-party candidate to join the race and split the GOP vote, clearing the way for Clinton's election.
"There's no way conservatives could stand for Giuliani becoming the Republican nominee," said Richard Viguerie, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement. "I guarantee whoever the Democrats nominate would be the next president."
~ship~
He backed off his earlier opposition to a ban on the medical procedure referred to as partial-birth abortion, and expressed support for gun owners' Second Amendment rights, even though as New York mayor he sued gun manufacturers and argued that more guns lead to more crime.
~snip~
So social conservatives -- for whom Giuliani's support for abortion rights, gun control and gay unions are anathema -- are speaking out. Some say they would use the tools at their disposal to tell voters about Giuliani's social stances.
Viguerie, a direct-mail pioneer, argued it no longer takes millions of mailings to make the case, thanks to talk radio, the Internet and other "below-the-radar" media.
Tony Perkins, head of the conservative Family Research Council, told a conservative radio host that Giuliani's positions are "far outside the mainstream of conservative thought ... Once people focus on this election and the candidates, Giuliani's lead will diminish."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
But other conservatives say Giuliani's strong poll standing is mainly driven by his popularity after 9/11. A recent Gallup Poll showed that nearly three-fourths of Republicans didn't know he favors civil unions for same-sex couples, and two-thirds didn't know he supports abortion rights.
PING
What did Rudy actually DO after 9-11 that makes him so qualified to run the executive branch of the federal government?
Not doubting, just curious.
1. After eight years as Mayor, NY remained a high tax socialist hellhole. There goes his "fiscal conservative" bonafides.
2. Has a long history of questionable friends (Bernie Kerick, Ray Harding). There goes the "honesty" card.
3. Has a history of abandoning women when a new gal catches his eye. At least BC remained married. There goes the "moral integrity" card.
4. Lived with two gay roomates after divorce. Not that there's anything wrong with it.
5. Is on the record CONDEMNING the 1996 immigration reforms and Prop 187, stating that "NY thrives because of immigrants, documented and UNdocumented. There goes the "securing our borders card."
6. Has a history of being vehemently anti-gun, claiming that the 2nd amendment allows for "reasonable regulation." Of course, this is fitting for a law and order fetishist.
7. The last point illustrates that he has little understanding of "original intent."
8. Pro-abortion.
9. Governed a city where the majority of inhabitants are either effete yuppies, third world immigrants, or the children of the latter. There goes the "I am an American" card.
10. Has said NOTHING about foreign policy, other than superficial sound bites and Likud Party talking points (plagiarist!). So much for "Mr. National Security."
12. Had VERY low approval ratings until 9/11 happenned, due to a lack of ethics, and clumsy handling of police shootings. There goes the "competance" card.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Guiliani can NOT beat Hillary. Conservatives will prefer their liberal president to be a Democrat, and will sit home if offered nothing but a choice between two liberals.
What happened to #11. Otherwise its a good start.
I think #1 is critcal.
If you're right, that is supremely dumb of "conservatives".
P.S. I don't think you're right.
That's something worth saying Reagan Man!
Or at least won't "get out" the vote; aka work hard for him, which is what the Republican nominee needs..
I can't vote for him because his wife spells her name with an "i"...Judi.
I'm not shocked at all so many republicans are ignorant of Giuliani's leftist political views. When the primaries really get going, and it moves beyond the name part of the race, a lot of Giuliani fans are in for a surprise when their sure winner sinks like the titanic in the republican primary.
Giuliani is the most left-wing viable republican candidate ever. And now Sean Hannity is cheerleading for him. It's going to be tough, but I feel much more confident in "the field" than Giuliani.
Any republican but Giuliani or Hagel in 2008!
"Any republican but Giuliani or Hagel in 2008!"
I have to add McCain to your list.
How's that cabin in the hills doin' for you? Kill any Mexicans lately?
The best way to fight off Rudy is for the conservatives to put up a candidate that can beat the leading democrat. If they can't, then someone worse than Rudy, will become president. This is the reality of the situation.
Rudy should be honest and run as a Democrat.
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"Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine." - Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani
Clinton
Dem Platform
GOP Platform
Abortion on Demand
Supports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Partial Birth Abortion
Supports
Opposed
NY banSupports
Supports
Opposes
Roe v. Wade
Supports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Taxpayer Funded Abortions
Supports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Supports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Federal Marriage Amendment
Opposes
Opposes
Opposes
Defined at
state levelSupports
Gay Domestic Partnership/
Civil UnionsSupports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Openly Gay Military
Supports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Defense of Marriage Act
Opposes
Opposes
Opposes
Supports
Amnesty for Illegal Aliens
Supports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Special Path to Citizenship
for Illegal AliensSupports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Tough Penalties for
Employers of Illegal AliensOpposes
Opposes
Opposes
Supports
Sanctuary Cities/
Ignoring Immigration LawSupports
Supports
Supports
Opposes
Protecting 2nd Amendment
Opposes
Opposes
Opposes
Supports bansSupports
Confiscating Guns
Supports
Confiscated
as mayor.
Even bragged.Supports
Supports
Supports bansOpposes
'Assault' Weapons Ban
Supports
Supports
Supports
Frivolous Lawsuits
Against Gun MakersSupports
Filed One
HimselfSupports
Opposes
Gun Registration/Licenses
Supports
Supports
Opposes
War in Afghanistan
Supports
Supports
Voted for itSupports
Supports
War in Iraq
Supports
Supports
Voted for itSupports
Weak supportSupports
Patriot Act
Supports
Supports
Voted for it
2001 & 2006Opposes
Supports
Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it.
Rudy Giuliani
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